Epidemiology

Those affected are in the growth phase, which, depending on the source, can be placed in a range from the fourth to the eighteenth year of life. In some cases, the pain already occurs in two and three-year-old infants. Girls and boys are equally affected. Depending on the population, frequencies of 4-37% occur in the population.Doctors estimate that probably every third child suffers from growth pain at least once in their life. It is suspected that some people are more susceptible to feeling the growth pain because of inheritance of certain genes.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis is based on a survey of the patient’s medical history including family history. A physical examination is also performed. Through examination and questioning, an attempt is made to delimit and exclude other clinical pictures, such as other musculoskeletal disorders, which can also cause pain.

In particular, rheumatic diseases (such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis and reactive arthritis), tumors (especially the osteoid osteoma), inflammations (such as hip rhinitis, a harmless inflammation of the hip joint, which is characteristic of childhood), injuries (in children the typical greenwood fracture) and blood cell disease (leukemia) are excluded. Symptoms such as redness, swelling, localized pain, overheating indicate an inflammation. Fever, night sweats, weight loss and fatigue are also serious symptoms that may indicate other malignant diseases, but do not occur with growth pain.

To exclude an injury, one should pay attention to bruises, redness, abrasions and bleeding. If questioning and physical examination are unproductive, sometimes a pain diary can also be revealing. In the pain diary, pain occurring during the course of the day and the intensity of the pain are recorded.

It is possible to find out whether the pain is related to certain events, such as physical strain, long periods of sitting or other events. If the pain persists continuously for more than five days, you should consult a doctor again immediately. Depending on the results, blood tests or X-rays may be necessary. In rare cases, scinitigraphy or magnetic resonance imaging may be necessary. The growth pain does not show any abnormalities in physical examinations, laboratory tests and X-rays.